On this adventure, I follow a large circular route beginning and ending in Hertford, taking in a large swathe of East Herts, Essex Borders and North Herts, featuring a selection of countrified inter-town routes plus some services serving new developments along the way.

***Arriva Herts & Essex Enviro200 MMC 4086 of Harlow (HA) Garage on the 724 at Harlow Temporary Bus Station after my ride on it from Hertford.***

Due to the scheduled vehicle for this working having a mechanical fault, this bus was the sub and running some 40 mins late. HA Garage was having problems that morning, as another bus had broken down on the 508/509/510 group and local drivers advised that a couple of buses were currently over the pits.

Part Route 724: Hertford to Harlow

The day got off to a bad start when my first bus, the 724 from Hertford Bus Station to Harlow, failed to show up at the scheduled time of 07:49. Ominously, a check on Bustimes.org failed to show the bus even on its way, with the next one not due until 08:31. The earlier bus was on a short-working, commencing at Welwyn Garden City, whereas the later departure was a through journey from Heathrow Airport. Eventually, the first bus did appear on bustimes.org - leaving WGC 47 mins late! A conversation with a 724 driver on a Heathrow bound working which arrived in the interim elicited that the Harlow bound bus was so late due to the booked vehicle having a mechanical issue necessitating a sub to be found at the garage before leaving which had caused a long delay.

Ridiculously, due to the late running, the 07:49 and 08:31 departures from Hertford were running almost together - surely it would have more sensible to start the late running vehicle from Hertford (which it could have done more or less on time), rather than send it empty to WGC to start from there virtually in tandem with the next bus! Eventually, Enviro200 MMC fleet no 4086 arrived, with a handful on board, having made up a few minutes and now only 40 mins late on leaving Hertford. Meanwhile, the next Harlow working pulled into the Bus Station as we departed.

Once we got going, a reasonable run along the main road to Ware, swapping passengers at Herts Regional College near the level crossing. After dropping one more at Van Hage’s Garden Centre, it was onto the A414 and a non-stop fast run along the dual carriageway to the outskirts of Harlow, with another passenger leaving us near Harlow Town Station. Then up to the Town Centre, finishing at the Temporary Bus Station after a run of just over 20 mins.

The 724 began as a new orbital Green Line Coach route with One-Man RF operation under London Transport auspices in 1966, running originally between High Wycombe and Romford, although it was later rerouted at the western end to start from Staines and serve Heathrow Airport. The sections between Staines & Heathrow and Harlow & Romford were later discontinued. After passing through London Country Bus Services and its successors, the route ended up with Arriva Herts & Essex, operated from Harlow (HA) Garage. A basic Hourly service operates M-S and Every 2 Hours Sundays plus Night-times, providing a 24 hour operation.

After being home to a variety of types over the years, the noughties saw a batch of Mercedes-Benz Citaros with extra luggage space enter service, which in the early 20s were replaced by a fleet of Enviro200 MMCs, later supplemented by some Wright bodied VDL SB200s. In recent times, an experimental livery of lime green front, white amidships and purple rear was experimented with on some of the latter, but has now been dropped, buses now appearing in anonymous Arriva blue.

Not the bus I travelled on, but Enviro200 MMC 4079 of Harlow Garage illustrates the allocation of the type to the 508/509/510 group operating between Harlow & Stansted Airport. Seen at Bishops Stortford Interchange, opposite the railway station.

*Taken back in December 2020, when Arriva was still “a DB company”. Note the modest branding for the routes and reference to London Stansted Airport on the side.*

Route 509: Harlow to Stansted Airport

Next on my list was the 508/509/510 group of routes, also operated by Arriva Herts & Essex from Harlow (HA) Garage. These follow a common section between Harlow and Bishops Stortford, but then take different paths to Stansted Airport - the 508 via Takeley, the 509 via Parsonage Estate and the 510 via Birchanger. In theory, a joint 10 min headway is scheduled M-F daytimes, 15 min Sat daytimes, 30 min Sun daytimes and, on the 510 only, Hourly evenings and all night, providing another 24 Hour service. All very fine - when it runs!

When I arrived, a large crowd was waiting at the appropriate stop at Harlow Temporary Bus Station for the next departure. However, the 509 due at 08:59 didn’t turn up, neither did the 510 due at 09:09. Two inbound buses arrived in the meantime, but were not departing until 09:20 and 09:30. The drivers explained to the agitated crowd that the issue was “Wonky Buses!” Apparently, one bus had broken down that morning and a couple of others were currently off the road over the pits in the garage - a very unsatisfactory state of affairs, which doesn’t do Arriva much credit in the area. Almost like the bad old days of London Country in the mid 70s, when service cuts were common due to unreliable new vehicles and a spare parts shortage.

After the letting the assembled hordes board the 09:20, I opted for the following departure, the 09:30, a 509, formed by Enviro200 MMC fleet no 4113. As the bus in front was doing all the work, we had an easy run out of Harlow New Town through to Old Harlow via The Stow. Up past Harlow Mill Station and on via the reasonably countrified stretch through to Sawbridgeworth, where we had a brief wait due to early running at The White Lion. Then on through the fields beside the railway up to Spellbrook, so far all very traditional, reminding me of Green RT rides on the 396 & 397 to Bishops Stortford back in the early/mid 70s with London Country, which used to cover these roads.

However, at Thorley, all is now changed from the old days - new roundabouts and new buildings abound as Bishops Stortford expands, due in part to the “Stansted effect”. Temporary lights on approach to the town delayed us by about 5 mins, so we were late on arrival in the centre. More confusion at the Riverside stop, as due to roadworks, we were unable to access the Parsonage Estate loop, so were on diversion direct along the Dunmow Road (effectively taking the 508 route rather than the 509 on this section), much to the annoyance of passengers who wanted stops unique to the 509. Leaving Stortford, we regained line of route, crossing the M11 roundabout and entering the approach roads to Stansted Airport, terminating at the Bus Station outside the main terminal building after a 55 min run.

Part Route 510: Stansted Airport to Bishops Stortford

After a layover of just over 10 mins, I reboarded the same bus, which had now become a 510 for its return trip. This takes a more circuitous route back to Bishops Stortford, passing the Long Stay Car Park and proceeding along the lanes to the new Forest Hall estate at Birchanger, on the outskirts of Stansted Mountfitchet. A good number of locals picked up travelling into town, arriving at the somewhat optimistically named “Interchange” opposite the railway station - in reality, a single bus stop with a shelter at the current time! 25mins from the airport on this trip.

***Arriva Optare Versa 4231 of Harlow Garage on Bishops Stortford local route 511 at Bishops Park Tesco.***

This is the successor to the 311 service between Bishops Stortford Interchange and this point, serving the expanding Stortford Fields development en route, but last year was extended to St James’ Park, another new estate on the other side of town adjacent to Thorley Park, absorbing route 309.

Route 511: Bishops Stortford Circular

I had just a couple of minutes to await my next bus, the 511 local service, again operated by Arriva. This has only been running since November 2024, when it replaced the 311 between the Interchange and Bishops Park Tesco via Stortford Fields, a new housing development on the northern edge of town adjacent to the A120 by-pass, together with the 309 between the Interchange and Thorley Park to the south of town, whilst incorporating a link to St James’ Park, yet another new housing area. A 30 min frequency operates M-S daytimes, with no evening or Sunday service (for now).

Optare Versas are the usual fare and I had fleet no 4231 of Harlow Garage, a grubby example, not helped by the copious amount of mud on some of the roads traversed, which include some where building work is still on-going. A reasonable number boarded in the town centre, before we departed along South Street, past the site of the former Eastern National Garage in the town, which I remember when it was still open and operating Bristol Lodekka FLF types on routes like the local 309, whilst I sailed by aboard RTs on the 396 & 397. We then left the main road to turn up Thorley Hill to Havers Lane Estate and then along the unusual “Thorley Bus Link” - a single track bus only road controlled at each end by special traffic lights to avoid buses meeting mid way. Looping around the Thorley Park Estate, we rejoined the main road for a short distance, before swinging off at a new roundabout into the recently built St James’ Park area, a new section of route for me.

After pausing for a minute or two at the “hesitation point” on the terminal loop, we continued back into Thorley Park and the reverse of our outward route into town, again with reasonable usage. However, instead of retracing our steps via South Street, we continued into town via London Road, arriving back at the Interchange from the east rather than the west. Here we emptied out, with only me staying on for the other part of the route up to Stortford Fields, although we picked up a couple of others in the town. The route goes up the Hadham Road to the edge of town, before hanging a right at a new roundabout into the Stortford Fields development. The first section of this is now completed and occupied, where we dropped our other passengers. However, as we went further along Newland Avenue, work is mainly still in progress and we were passing a succession of building sites. Towards the end of the road, there is a large new school, but not many occupied properties at this stage. After executing the three point turn required, we returned through the estate whence we came, picking up no more passengers, then back on the main road turning right for the short distance to Bishops Park Tesco, just off the next roundabout.

A scheduled 6 min break at Tescos enabled a driver change, before I reboarded to complete the rounder. I was treated to yet another double run to Stortford Fields, with 4 passengers picked up on this section who wanted the town centre. For some reason, there was a slow moving traffic queue into town along Hadham Road, which hadn’t been there a few minutes before on the outward trip - causing a 10 min late arrival back at the Interchange. A 90 min rounder.

***Central Connect Enviro200 MMC no 343 at Stevenage Interchange after my long ride across North Herts from Bishops Stortford via Buntingford on the 36 and 37.***

*This is a much travelled bus, originating with Whitelaw’s of Stonehouse, Scotland, then passing through Redline and Red Rose of Aylesbury, before coming to Central Connect.*

Route 36: Bishops Stortford to Buntingford

Route 37: Buntingford to Stevenage

Due to the late running on my previous bus, I thought I would miss the 12:45 departure on the 36 to Buntingford, but for once the odds were in my favour, as this was also behind schedule and departed 10 mins late from Bishops Stortford Interchange, enabling me to catch it with a couple of minutes to spare. Operated by Central Connect, part of the Vectare Group, a basic 2 hourly service operates M-S daytimes, with the majority of departures operating through to Stevenage and changing number to 37 at Buntingford. Additional journeys operate on M-F as 36A between Bishops Stortford and Buntingford serving The Hormeads after Puckeridge, providing an Hourly service in the middle of the day.

The normal fare on the 36 / 37 are Enviro200 MMCs, usually the shorter versions obtained new by Central Connect in recent times, but I had a more unusual example in the form of fleet no 343, a longer 39 seater which has done the rounds, starting off with Whitelaw’s of Stonehouse in Scotland and then spending time with Redline and Red Rose of Aylesbury, before ending up with Central Connect. This bus bears a largely grey/black livery with just a touch of light blue on the lower front corners - it remains to be seen whether it gains the latest two-tone blue Vectare colour scheme.

We picked up a few shoppers in the town on departure, who seemed to be regulars from their conversations with the driver, 6 of us in total as we made our way uphill along the Hadham Road to Bishops Park Tesco, where we picked up precisely no-one. Onto the fast out-of-town country section down to the traffic lights at Little Hadham, where again we had no takers, keeping going along the main road through the fields to Standon, where one person alighted. Passing around the narrow streets and tight turns in Puckeridge, we reached the A10 and another fast run past Westmill and into Buntingford. On the way in, I noted the site of the former station, once the terminus of a branch line from St Margaret’s, closed in 1964, where the station building is now repurposed as part of a housing development.

At The Crown Inn in the High Street, the other 4 passengers alighted, but we gained 2 more for the next leg of our journey to Stevenage, having changed from a 36 to a 37 at this point. There is a scheduled break of 7 mins in this direction on most journeys, which we took, despite being a few minutes down on schedule, although we were to make this up before the end of the trip. Departing Buntingford, we continued along the A507 towards the pretty village of Cottered, with its substantial village green and nice houses, but not giving us any custom. It was then a lazy spin around the twisting main road through the attractive open countryside of North Herts until reaching civilisation again at Baldock, picking up one more traveller on the outskirts. After passing through this market town, there was a final stretch of country before arriving into Letchworth.

From this point, the route became more urban and we began to pick up more custom, with passengers on and off in ones and twos at many stops until the end of the trip. After Letchworth, it was a short haul to Hitchin, pausing briefly at the station, by which we were a minute or two early, having made up time after our late departure at the start of the journey. Progressing through yet another market town, we hit the Wymondley By-Pass for a final spurt of fast running to the outskirts of Stevenage, serving Lister Hospital, before the final section avoiding the Old Town to the new Interchange. Arrival was more or less on time, after a total journey of 1h40m from Bishops Stortford.

The 36 / 37 routes are the successor the more familiar 386 route number which previously served this corridor. This had its origins in London Transport and then LCBS Route 386, which for many years operated only 3 or 4 days a week and did different things on different days, with only 1, 2 or 3 journeys each way a day. Saturday was traditionally the only day it ran from Bishops Stortford to Hitchin via Buntingford, operating only between Hertford / Buntingford & Hitchin or Hertford / Buntingford & Bishops Stortford on odd days during the week. Back in the 50s/60s, it was a famous GS route, although these were later replaced with RFs.

Today’s 36 / 37 is a different animal in that it avoids many of the small villages previously served by the 386 and acts more as a limited stop inter-town service, providing more and faster journeys between the Herts towns of Bishops Stortford, Buntingford, Hitchin & Stevenage than its forerunner.

Arriva VDL SB200 Wright 3772 of Stevenage (SV) Garage at the Interchange after my rounder on the SB7 to Great Ashby & back aboard. The driver has already changed the destination for its next trip on the SB8, the two routes interworking at this point.

*The nose-in stands with glass doors which only open when a bus is present make photography difficult at this location, particularly when all the stands are occupied.*

Route SB7: Stevenage to Great Ashby (& back)

The new Stevenage Interchange provides various facilities including covered waiting area, toilets and retail outlets. After taking advantage of these, I had time to fit in one local route, before completing my grand circuit of Herts & Essex back to Hertford. I chose the SB7, a service I had not been on for a while. Operated by Arriva from Stevenage (SV) Garage, this interworks with the SB8, vehicles changing routes between trips at the Interchange. Wright VDL SB200 3772 arrived on an inbound SB8 from Symonds Green, becoming an outbound SB7 to Great Ashby. I boarded with a good number of others at departure time.

The SB7 runs every 30 mins M-S daytimes, Hourly eves & Suns, serving firstly the older estates at Bedwell and Pin Green, before reaching the much newer development at Great Ashby. The route used to describe a large anticlockwise loop here before returning to town, but this has now been changed to an “out and back” route, with buses traversing Great Ashby Way in both directions and hesitating for a minute or two at Manchester Close, now the limit of operations. After dropping off our load at various points on the outbound trip, it was much quieter on the return run to the town centre, with only single digit numbers on board. The round trip took exactly 45 mins.

***Centrebus Enviro200 MMC fleet no 597 has arrived at Hertford Bus Station on the 907 at the conclusion of my rides for the day.***

The bus is one of those in the dark blue “Connect Herts” livery, with signwriting and line diagram of the points served by routes 390 & 907. Unfortunately, this doesn’t distinguish between the two and could make the unwary think the 907 serves Watton-At-Stone, which only one or two early and late journeys do!

Part Route 907: Stevenage to Hertford

Last bus of the day was a final Enviro200 MMC, this time belonging to Centrebus, on route 907 between Stevenage and Hertford. I had ridden the route a year or so ago when it was new, between Hertford and Brookfield Centre, then back to Stevenage. This section completed the round trip I had begun back then!

A large number boarded fleet no 597 at Stevenage Interchange, proving the popularity of this new route, which runs Hourly Daily, although with a later start on Sunday and no late evening service. The modern interior featured high backed seating, together with next stop displays / announcements, which we are used to in London, but are (thus far) relatively rare in Herts on non TfL routes. The bus was in the dark blue “Connect Herts” livery, extolling the virtues of routes 390 and 307 running up to every 30 mins between Stevenage & Hertford (but not saying this is only M-F daytimes!). The line diagram on the sides shows points served but doesn’t make clear that only the 907 runs through to Brookfield (not the 390) and that most 907 journeys don’t serve Watton-At-Stone - a strange omission in my view, as this is the largest settlement between Stevenage & Ware / Hertford. I understand the point of the route is fast journeys between key towns, but this one misses a significant source of potential custom and would likely add only a couple of minutes to the running time.

We left Stevenage Interchange on time, picking up a few on the outskirts of town and dropping off several in the Bragbury End area. Then, a fast run along the A602 through Hooks Cross, swinging a left around the Watton-At-Stone By-Pass, served only by the 907. Continuing along the recently realigned main road through the rolling greenery, we by-passed Tonwell and made our way over the A10 roundabout into Ware, serving various stops in the town. Then, crossing the railway, we joined the main Hertford Road past Hertford Regional College and back into the county town, arriving on time in the Bus Station after a 45 min run.

My grand circular tour was now at an end, achieving everything I had planned, despite problems with broken down buses in the initial phases of the operation!

Watton

Circling the Herts & Essex Borders

Get Your Kicks on Route 66!

Repurposed Deckers in Bexleyheath & Bromley